Firefox has clearly become the number one alternative to Internet Explorer taking a firm second place in terms of market share. But Mozilla intend to keep pushing the browser and its latest idea targets business users.

One issue always faced by companies, and especially large organizations, is deploying software to multiple machines as quickly and easily as possible. That includes deploying a web browser with the right links setup, network settings, and a host of other customizations. Mozilla have reacted to that need by introducing the Build You Own Browser (BYOB) programme.

BYOB is set to go live soon after the release of Firefox 3.5 and will allow not only a range of customizations, but also the ability to re-skin Firefox so it looks like a company product rather than the standard browser. Mozilla will allow these changes to be made and then sends the company an executable for installing across their entire network.

Customization has been available in the past for Firefox, but BYOB is an attempt to make the process a lot easier in a bid to encourage uptake by business users.

Matthew’s Opinion
If Mozilla want to keep taking market share away from Microsoft and Internet Explorer then winning business users is key.

Large organizations account for tens of thousands of machines and each of those is used by someone who then goes home to their own PC. If your work machine has Firefox running on it then there is more chance you will want to use the same software at home as you are used to it. So business deployment comes with a double bonus for Mozilla.

BYOB doesn’t go as far as Internet Explorer with its installation pack business users get, but this is just a first step and we may see that later on. Mozilla does point out though, that the open source nature of Firefox means anyone could make some installation tools for the browser.